The (in)visible scar. Representation of the body in blogs by women with breast cancer

In this paper we analyze the representation of the body in blogs by women with breast cancer. Taking into account both texts and images, we study the representation of the body on the basis of the body problems proposed by Frank (1995): control, body-relatedness, other-relatedness and desire. In the blogs studied we find a desiring and dyadic body, which is understood as part of a network of affection and care. The diagnosis of cancer can generate both dissociation, when the body is experienced as a threat, and association, a wish to be connected to it. In relation to control, a clear will of predictability is observed but traces of assumption of contingency also appear.

Re-evaluation of Graneledone setebos (Cephalopoda : Octopodidae) and allocation to the genus Megaleledone

The holotype of the Antarctic octopodid Graneledone setebos was re-examined and found to lack the epidermal warts characteristic of the genus Graneledone. It is similar in its large size to another Southern Ocean species, Megaleledone senoi. A comparative study of G. setebos and specimens attributed to M. senoi led us to conclude that M. senoi is a junior synonym of G. setebos. Although M. senoi is not valid, the genus Megaleledone can be separated from other genera by the structure of the radula (which lacks marginal plates) and we therefore consider the genus to be valid. We propose the new combination of Megaleledone setebos and have refigured the beaks and radula of the holotype herein and expanded the description. A search of museum specimens and the literature shows that Megaleledone setebos is more common in Antarctic waters than previously supposed.

‘Glimpses into the unmentionable: Montserrat, tourism and anthropological readings of “subordinate exotic” and “comic exotic” travel writing’

This article explores the relationship between anthropology and identity through the process of travel writing and reading. Specifically, the article examines a range of travel writing about the British Caribbean colony Montserrat to read into the culture of the writer. These deconstructive ‘glimpses into the unmentionable’ reveal an implicit racism. The travel writing texts are also found to divide into two types of representation – the ‘subordinate exotic’ and the ‘comic exotic’.

The role of advanced glycation end products in retinal ageing and disease

The retina is exposed to a lifetime of potentially damaging environmental and physiological factors that make the component cells exquisitely sensitive to age-related processes. Retinal ageing is complex and a raft of abnormalities can accumulate in all layers of the retina. Some of this pathology serves as a sinister preamble to serious conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which remains the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the Western world.

The formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is a natural function of ageing but accumulation of these adducts also represents a key pathophysiological event in a range of important human diseases. AGEs act as mediators of neurodegeneration, induce irreversible changes in the extracellular matrix, vascular dysfunction and pro-inflammatory signalling. Since many cells and tissues of the eye are profoundly influenced by such processes, it is fitting that advanced glycation is now receiving considerable attention as a possible pathogenic factor in visual disorders.

This review presents the current evidence for a pathogenic role for AGEs and activation of the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) in initiation and progression of retinal disease. It draws upon the clinical and experimental literature and highlights the opportunities for further research that would definitively establish these adducts as important instigators of retinal disease. The therapeutic potential for novel agents that can ameliorate AGE formation of attenuate RAGE signalling in the retina is also discussed.

Antimicrobial peptides in the venom of the European hornet, Vespa crabro, identified as mastoparan C and crabrolin

Amphibian skin secretions are rich sources of cationic amphipathic peptides which often possess potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. However, the venoms of other animals such as hymenopteran insects, also contain peptides with these characteristics and the literature is unclear as to their antimicrobial potential. Here we subjected the venom of the European hornet, Vespa crabro, to reverse phase HPLC fractionation followed by screening of aliquots of individual fractions in bacterial zonal inhibition assays. Two major peptides possessing activity in these assays were further purified by HPLC and subjected to MALDI-TOF MS analysis and MS/MS fragmentation using an ESI mass spectrometer. The peptides were identified as mastoparan C (LNLKALLAVAKKILamide) and crabrolin (FLPLILRKIVTALamide). Replicates of both peptides were synthesised by solid-phase methodology and mean inhibitory concentrations (MICs) established against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Mastoparan C was found to be a potent antimicrobial with MIC values of 2 µM and 4 µM against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Crabrolin was found to be less potent with MIC values of > 160 µM and 40 µM for S. aureus and E. coli. Hornet venom thus contains a potent antimicrobial peptide that has been unambiguously identified as mastoparan C, a peptide that is known to affect profound histamine release from mast cells and to generally activate membrane G protein-linked receptors. It is thus highly probable that its antimicrobial effects, like those previously documented, are a result of a generalized membrane interactive and disruptive function — perhaps reflective of the authentic role of amphibian skin antimicrobials.

A critical review of some recent developments in quantitative research on gender and achievement in the United Kingdom

Over recent years the findings of a number of quantitative research studies have been published in the UK on gender and achievement. Much of this work has emanated from Stephen Gorard and his colleagues and has not only been highly critical of existing approaches to handling quantitative data but has also suggested a number of alternative and, what they claim to be, more valid ways of measuring differential patterns of achievement and underachievement between groups. This article shows how much of this work has been based upon rather under-developed measures of achievement and underachievement that tend, in turn, to generate a number of misleading findings that have questionable implications for practice. It will be argued that this body of work provides a useful case study in the problems of quantitative research that fails to engage adequately with the substantive theoretical and empirical literature and considers some of the implications of this for future research in this area.

Polish metaphorical perceptions of the translator and translation

The paper offers a comprehensive overview of the Polish metaphorics of translation. It starts by examining the Polish linguistic image of translating, followed by a survey of metaphorical descriptions of the translator and translation from the 18th century, representing the pre-scientific era in reflection on translation. Most attention is devoted to metaphors found in contemporary Polish discourse on translation, centered around: (1) the nature of translation; (2) the relationship between the source and target text, and between the author and translator; and (3) the role of the translator. It is demonstrated that the Polish context offers a rich repertoire of metaphorical depictions of translating, which reflects its distinctive historical and cultural setup.

Blood pressure lowering in patients without prior cerebrovascular disease for prevention of cognitive impairment and dementia

Background: This is an update of a previous review (McGuinness 2006). Hypertension and cognitive impairment are prevalent in older people. Hypertension is a direct risk factor for vascular dementia (VaD) and recent studies have suggested hypertension impacts upon prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore does treatment of hypertension prevent cognitive decline?
Objectives: To assess the effects of blood pressure lowering treatments for the prevention of dementia and cognitive decline in patients with hypertension but no history of cerebrovascular disease.
Search strategy: The Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group, The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, LILACS as well as many trials databases and grey literature sources were searched on 13 February 2008 using the terms: hypertens$ OR anti-hypertens$. Selection criteria: Randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trials in which pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions to lower blood pressure were given for at least six months.
Data collection and analysis: Two independent reviewers assessed trial quality and extracted data. The following outcomes were assessed: incidence of dementia, cognitive change from baseline, blood pressure level, incidence and severity of side effects and quality of life.
Main results: Four trials including 15,936 hypertensive subjects were identified. Average age was 75.4 years. Mean blood pressure at entry across the studies was 171/86 mmHg. The combined result of the four trials reporting incidence of dementia indicated no significant difference between treatment and placebo (236/7767 versus 259/7660, Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.89, 95% CI 0.74, 1.07) and there was considerable heterogeneity between the trials. The combined results from the three trials reporting change in Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) did not indicate a benefit from treatment (Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) = 0.42, 95%CI 0.30, 0.53). Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were reduced significantly in the three trials assessing this outcome (WMD = -10.22, 95% CI -10.78, -9.66 for systolic blood pressure, WMD = -4.28, 95% CI -4.58, -3.98 for diastolic blood pressure). Three trials reported adverse effects requiring discontinuation of treatment and the combined results indicated no significant difference (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.92, 1.11). When analysed separately, however, more patients on placebo in Syst Eur 1997 were likely to discontinue treatment due to side effects; the converse was true in SHEP 1991. Quality of life data could not be analysed in the four studies. Analysis of the included studies in this review was problematic as many of the control subjects received antihypertensive treatment because their blood pressures exceeded pre-set values. In most cases the study became a comparison between the study drug against a usual antihypertensive regimen.
Authors' conclusions: There is no convincing evidence fromthe trials identified that blood pressure lowering in late-life prevents the development of dementia or cognitive impairment in hypertensive patients with no apparent prior cerebrovascular disease. There were significant problems identified with analysing the data, however, due to the number of patients lost to follow-up and the number of placebo patients who received active treatment. This introduced bias. More robust results may be obtained by conducting a meta-analysis using individual patient data.

The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: Explanation and elaboration

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are essential to summarize evidence relating to efficacy and safety of health care interventions accurately and reliably. The clarity and transparency of these reports, however, is not optimal. Poor reporting of systematic reviews diminishes their value to clinicians, policy makers, and other users. Since the development of the QUOROM (QUality Of Reporting Of Meta-analysis) Statement-a reporting guideline published in 1999-there have been several conceptual, methodological, and practical advances regarding the conduct and reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Also, reviews of published systematic reviews have found that key information about these studies is often poorly reported. Realizing these issues, an international group that included experienced authors and methodologists developed PRISMA ( Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) as an evolution of the original QUOROM guideline for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of evaluations of health care interventions. The PRISMA Statement consists of a 27-item checklist and a four-phase flow diagram. The checklist includes items deemed essential for transparent reporting of a systematic review. In this Explanation and Elaboration document, we explain the meaning and rationale for each checklist item. For each item, we include an example of good reporting and, where possible, references to relevant empirical studies and methodological literature. The PRISMA Statement, this document, and the associated Web site (http://www.prisma-statement.org/) should be helpful resources to improve reporting of systematic reviews and metaanalyses.

Tongue-tied?: An Active Analysis of Brian Friel's Translations

This article has arisen from a research-led production of Translations by Brian Friel for Queen’s University’s Tyrone Guthrie Society in February 2010. Drawing partly on a review of the existing critical literature and also from questions left unresolved by a previous experience of directing the play, the production sought to address through ‘active analysis’ (Merlin 2001) a number of research questions relating to the embodied nature of the rehearsal process and the historicity of Friel’s play. The analysis invokes Bergson (1910), Lefebvre (1991) and Worthern (2006) in establishing a performative correlative for insightful but more literary studies by Connolly (1993), Lojek (1994) and McGrath (1989 & 1999). A detailed account of the rehearsal process helps reveal the extent to which the idea of failure of communication is embedded in the text and embodied in performance, while an experiment with the partial use of the Irish language casts further light on Friel’s extraordinary device of rendering two languages through the medium of one. The use of music to counterpoint, rather than underscore the action, together with an achronological sequence of projected historical images inspired by Andrews (1983) provided me as director a means to challenge the audience’s presuppositions about the play. The sense of palimpsest, of the layered histories, that this evoked also served to highlight Friel’s use of the wider stylistic palette of Anglo-Irish drama, revealing Translations as a forerunner for Stewart Parker’s more explicit formal experiments in Northern Star. In rehearsal and performance Friel’s place in the continuum of the Irish theatrical canon became clear, as stylistic allusions to O’Casey, Shaw, Wilde and Beckett were embodied by the actors on the rehearsal room floor.